Lagos: Every 16 minutes, a teacher in a particular classroom commits not just grammatical errors but verb group-related errors, a professor of English Grammar and Applied English Linguistics, has said. Prof. Roseline Adejare of the Department of Language, Arts and Social Science Education, Lagos State University (LASU), made this assertion after delivering LASU’s 107th Inaugural Lecture at the Ojo Campus of the institution.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the lecture had the topic: ”Is, Was, Choose One: Exploration into the World of the English Verb and Other Aspects of English Grammar.’ Verb group-related errors involve mistakes with verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, and the use of auxiliary verbs. Adejare said: ‘The standard is getting lower, and there is a reason for it. We do not teach grammar any longer, and there are no qualified people to teach grammar because nobody studies grammar.’
She further elaborated on her study, aiming to establish a link between teachers’ competence in the language of instruction and the standard of education. According to the professor, the verb is central to the clause and central to meaning realization. She emphasized, ‘If you don’t know the verb, you don’t know the language.’
Adejare pointed out that teachers are not adequately prepared, and those teaching them at the university level often focus on social and discourse analysis, neglecting grammar due to its perceived difficulty. She called for a review of English Language programs in tertiary institutions to include more descriptive grammar courses, which would better equip teachers.
The professor stressed the importance of linguistic research focusing on grammar, as it is fundamental to language. She proposed that the Bachelor of Arts English program should be revised to incorporate more descriptive grammar courses. Adejare also suggested that departments with strong grammar programs should train competent personnel to manage them.
In her lecture, Adejare defined language as a human vocal noise used systematically and conventionally by a community for communication, highlighting the conventional nature of both spoken and written language. She noted the challenges faced in using the English Language in Nigeria, which lead to inaccurate utterances and emphasized the need for accurate description.
Adejare advocated for making Language Acquisition and Development compulsory and recommended that doctoral students be required to register and pass courses in the cognate department to enhance their language knowledge. She highlighted the avoidance of grammar and phonology by English Education students due to perceived difficulty, resulting in them being ill-equipped, and urged this issue to be addressed.
The Vice-Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, and other management staff of the university attended the inaugural lecture.
